A game ranch in Zimbabwe's Beitbridge district on the border with South Africa has been invaded by militants believed to be supporters of the ZANU-PF party of President Robert Mugabe, with the reported backing of Matabeleland South Angeline Masuku and Co-Minister of Home Affairs Kembo Mohadi, sources said.
Ian Ferguson, a white Zimbabwean who owns the Denlynian Game Ranch with his South African children, said the invaders have evicted all of his employees and sealed off the ranch. Ferguson said they threatened to kill anyone who resisted their orders to leave the property.
“The invaders are causing havoc as they have started looting at the ranch and threatening to kill workers or anyone not willing to co-operate," Ferguson said.
The invaders appeared to have the full backing of the ZANU-PF party leadership in the province including Masuku, and of Home Affairs Co-Minister Mohadi.
Ferguson told VOA Studio 7 reporter Gibbs Dube that he has sought intervention by South Africa’s Embassy in Harare, invoking the bilateral investment protection agreement signed by the two countries and ratified recently by Zimbabwe’s House of Assembly.
Masuku refused to comment and Home Affairs Co-Minister Mohadi was not reachable.
